Israeli
military today arrested three Palestinian boys, aged around
10, in Hebron after they were attacked by several children
from illegal settlements in the centre of the city. One
Swedish activist was also arrested after intervening in the
arrests of the children.

Before 1pm Palestinian children
were walking home from school when they had sticks thrown at
them by the children of extremist settlers living in the
centre of Hebron. Eyewitnesses state that the Palestinian
children called back in response to the attacking children,
but did not attack in return. However, the settler children
immediately called for soldiers at nearby checkpoints who
came running. The settler children pointed out four
Palestinian children, all aged around 10 years, who were
violently grabbed and pushed against a wall by soldiers. The
Israeli soldiers took no action against the settler children
who had instigated the attack.

Around fourty Palestinians,
including the headteacher of a nearby school, gathered and
insisted that the arrest was unacceptable. A non-violent
Swedish activist who also intervened peacefully on behalf of
the children has also been arrested and is being charged
with assaulting a soldier. The three children and Swedish
activist were taken away separately in military jeeps. The
Swedish activist is currently being held in Givat Havot
settlement near Hebron city, whilst the three Palestinian
boys are being held in interrogation centres.

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM)
is a Palestinian-led non-violent resistance movement
committed to ending Israel's illegal occupation of
Palestinian land. We call for full compliance with all
relevant UN resolutions and international
law.

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